Stretch shoe string

ABSTRACT

AN IMPROVED SHOE STRING FOR ALL VARIOUS TYPES OF SHOES, THE DEVICE CONSISTING OF A SHOE LACE MADE OF STRETCHABLE ELASTIC MATERIAL, THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SHOE LACE BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INTERCONNECTABLE EYE AND HOOK, SO TO ELIMINATE TYING THE ENDS WITH A KNOTTED BOW WHICH FRE-   QUENTLY BECOMES ACCIDENTALLY UNTIED, THE PRESENT INVENTION THUS INSURING A POSITIVE SECUREMENT.

J. M. VELASQUEZZ 3,701,572

summon SHOE STRING- Filed June 22, 1971 I //V 1 5" A/ 7'01? United States Patent 3,701,572 STRETCH SHOE STRING Joe M. Velasquez, 9640 Wahoo Lane, El Paso, Tex. 79924 Filed June 22, 1971, Ser. No. 155,438 Int. Cl. A43c 1/010 US. 01. 24-117 A 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to footwear. More specifically it relates to shoe strings for lacing up shoes.

It is generally well known that shoes which are secured on a persons foot by a shoe string which is knotted by a bow, upon occasion becomes untied accidentally and a person is obliged to stop whatever he may be doing so to re-tie the shoe string. In-the case of small children, they may possibly not pay attention to an untied shoe string so that the lace drags upon the ground, and they may possibly trip on it. Additionally it is known that military personnel have considerable trouble with shoe strings that are worn with their combat boots. These various situations are of course objectionable and therefore in want of an improvement.

Accordingly it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a shoe string that eliminates the necessity of being knotted with a bow, thus preventing the possibility of becoming untied.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe string wherein the opposite ends thereof are secured together by a constantly maintained tension on an interconnectable hook and eye so to prevent disconnection of the shoe string ends, regardless of tension changes on the shoe string such as occur in foot movement as for example in walking, bending and the like.

Yet another object is to provide a shoe string which is longitudinal stretchable throughout its entire length so as to make a neat appearance upon a shoe.

Other objects are to provide a stretch shoe string which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the stretch shoe string.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shoe showing the present invention secured thereupon.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a modified design of the invention wherein the present invention includes additionally an ornamental how so to give a conventional appearance to the shoe.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a shoe showing a further modified design which includes an auxiliary name plate so to appeal to teenagers.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 at this time, the reference 3,701,572 Patented Oct. 31, 1972 numeral 10 represents a stretch shoe string according to the present invention wherein there is a shoe lace 11 that is made up of an elastic core 12 consisting of stretchable rubber and which is enclosed within a woven fabric covering 13 having a weave that permits longitudinal stretch. At one end of the lace, a stiff wire loop 14 is secured, and at its opposite end, a stiff wire hook 15 is secured which is engageable with the loop 14; securement of the wire members being accomplished by bent imbedment 16 within the ends of the core and a wrapped serving 17 around the covering ends.

In use, the shoe string 10 is laced through holes 18 of a shoe, and the hook 15 is then attached to loop 14 to give a flexible comfortable fitting of the shoe around the foot.

in FIG. 3, a modified design of shoe string 20 includes a modified shoe string 10A with hooks 15 at both ends, and also a bow unit 21 that includes a stifi bracket 22 and a bow 23. The bracket 22 may be made of plastic or other material and includes openings 24 at opposite ends for each receiving one of the hook 15. Another opening 25 on an upraised tab 26 holds the bow 23 that is made up of material so to match the same in appearance to the covering 13 of shoe string 10 so that in use, it gives the appearance of being a continuation of the same, in a conventional manner. In a modified style the bow can be of contrasting appearance so to give a new kind of appearance.

In FIG. 4, another modified design of shoe string 27 includes the shoe string 10A and a separate name plate 28 carrying an individual name or nickname 29; the name plate having openings 30 at opposite ends so to receive hooks 15A for hooking the name plate to the shoe string 10A. This form of the invention will appeal to teenagers or children.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is to be understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. An elastic shoe lace and bow combination, comprising an elongated lace having an elastic core enclosed within a fabric including hooks secured to both ends of the lace in combination with a bow assembly comprising a bracket having perforated ears extending symmetrically and transversely from the base of a tab having a transverse perforation including a bow mounted over the bracket and having a strand passing through the perforated tab, said perforated ears receiving said hooks whereby said bow assembly is securely mounted between the lace ends.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 562,114 6/1896 Benford 24143 A 3,559,251 2/1971 Wilson 24.143 R 715,599 12/1902 Pitts 24-143 R 1,767,732 6/ 1930 Breadon 24-143 R FOREIGN PATENTS 590,459 6/1925 France 2A--143 R BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner D. F. MARQUETTE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 24l43 A 

